Yabra tops Bandits in football playoffs
Good evening I’m James Adderley and you’re locked into another serving of Sports Monday. Week 2 of the Regent’s Cup playoffs found the defending semi-pro football champion in action against football champion as Kulture Yabra hosted Builder’s Hardware Bandits. Only one would leave the Barracks undefeated.
In a stadium filled with playoff tension, Raul Celiz tries to work his spotkick magic, but last week Bandits hero Jair Perera can’t catch up with the pill.
Yabra first real attempt at goal comes late in the first half when Landi Pinelo serves up this pass for Roberto Cunningham, but he gets victimised by a vicious defensive block.
Yabra again seeks to move the scoreboard when this breakings ends up in no man’s land. But, the fleet footed Charlie Slusher beats Norman Nunez to the ball. Norman “Tilliman” Nunez then gets something to fire at Slusher, but the low cruise missile bounces outside the sticks.
It’s more offensive pressure for Yabra when Roberto Muschamp raises to Landi Pinelo, but Slusher swats the pill out of the danger zone to record the save. And at the half, we have a scoreless stalemate and very little legitimate highlights.
All that changes in second half action. Just five minutes in Norman Nunez serves up this beauty to Roberto Muschamp and his perfect header crashes behind a diving Charlie Slusher for the 1-zip lead.
At the other end, Deon Frazier thinks he has the equaliser on this nice run, but Shane Moody steps out to execute the save.
Fifty-five minutes into the ballgame, Tilliman somehow gets this pass to Landi Pinelo, who beats two defenders and with a wicked left foot shot, pushes Yabra to a 2-zip lead.
Yabra fanatic boxer Papi Poti explained he saw it before it happened.
Papi Poti, Kulture Yabra Fan
“I told them, believe me, football is back spectacular. I have repeated it over and over, we will ice and Bandits out of here, send them back to Belmopan.”
But back to the business as Yabra looks for more when Charlie Slusher mishandled this centre from Nunez, but he does recover in time to avoid further damage.
Believe it people, Tilliman Nunez is on top of things today and he serves up this beauty to Oliver Hendricks who fails from the point-blank range.
Downfield, the ever dangerous Derys Benavides hooks up with Wilmer Garcia, but and his one hundred and eighty launch looks good, but it can’t get past Shane Moody. Now watch this potent missile from midfield by El Gigante Perez that crashes against the upright bounces to Landi Pinelo, whose header chips off the crossbar as Belmopan dodges a bullet.
Meanwhile folks, this double-pump by Derys Benavides forces Moody into a flying fingertip save. Moody falls hard, but recovers to continue.
On this possession, Oliver Hendricks gets his turn to impress the scoreboard, but his launch is directly at Slusher. However, Hendricks does make amends when Nunez finds him on this press and his right foot push beats Charlie Slusher to give Kulture Yabra a well deserved 3-zip W.
Derron Jones, Belmopan Bandits
“This whole week the training in Belmopan was low intensity. We didn’t having nothing to offer from the coaching standpoint, nothing to offer to the team. I think Yabra was much more prepared mentally and physically, whereas Belmopan, I guess we were on a high from last week’s 3-nil ballgame and it showed today.”
James Adderley
“Can you right this ship, because this team certainly demonstrates a whole lot of talent?”
Derron Jones
“Well definitely. To start with, we had to jumble the defence a little bit, it looks like one man is missing, but it’s a major adjustment you have to make. But we have what, four more games remaining and we’ll be there.”
James Adderley
“It seems that the Kulture Yabra team has the number for the Builder’s Hardware Bandits. You beat them last year in the championship round and this is a surprising 3-nil victory today.”
Vallan Symms, Kulture Yabra
“Yeah, we have a good set of players on our team, and they are focussed. They know this is the playoffs and they have to go out there and give all, and that’s what they did today. Bandits cannot beat us so far, and that is good for us.”
James Adderley
“How were you able to contain the super-striker Jair Perera who came up with three goals last week?”
Vallan Symms
“We didn’t give him any break to get any shot at the goal. Everywhere he was somebody was on him and he couldn’t score.”
In the other playoff match yesterday, staged at the People’s Stadium, Griga United got goals from Dennis Serrano and Bent Burgess to hurt Fabro’s Juventus Stars 2-1.
Turning to the cycling scene, the National Road Championship like every other cycle event produced its share of controversy. It was staged yesterday. Nevertheless, there was no doubt that Ernest Meighan grabbed the 110 mile journey unchallenged in 4 hours 55 minutes. There’s also no doubt that Francisco “The Animal” Flores finished two and a half minutes later to grab second place.
Then came the controversy, so we went to the Belize Cycle Association for the official finish, because we’re tired of listening to pre-madonnas. This is what they gave us: Andrew Smiling 3rd, Mateo Cruz 4th, Michael Lewis 5th, Roger Troyer 6th, Leroy Betson 7th, Philip Dawson 8th, Barney Brown 9th and Ariel Rosado rounds out the top 10.
The junior ride of 60 miles saw Keith Enright win in 2 hours 23 minutes 22 seconds; Mark Staine took 2nd and Giovannie Leslie 3rd. On the female side, Anamarie Bennett again defeated Fiona Humes Gonzales. And yes, Anamarie Bennett is looking like a sure win for this upcoming Cross-Country Classic on Holy Saturday.
Turning to the basketball scene, newly elected Belize National Basketball President Bernard Wagner was the keynote speaker at yesterday’s opening of the annual amateur season at the City Centre. Sports Monday takes this opportunity to extend its heartfelt congratulations to the new B.N.B.A. president.
Meanwhile, in action on the court, BEL/Shell edged Acros Jaguars in overtime 82-79 and Christian Ambassadors routed U.B. 79-57.
That’s our show for today, we certainly invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all I’m James Adderley.